The Aga Khan Studs has announced today that it will be sending some horses to be trained by Dermot Weld, which will include both two-year-olds and yearlings. From September onwards The Aga Khan will have three trainers in Ireland as both John Oxx and Michael Halford will continue to train for The Aga Khan as well as Dermot Weld.

His Highness has found having three trainers in France, Alain de Royer Dupré, Mikel Delzangles and Jean-Claude Rouget, to be a successful policy, so it was decided to mirror this strategy in Ireland. Dermot Weld has been a highly successful trainer in Ireland and internationally for many years and His Highness felt he would add a new dimension to the Aga Khan Studs operation in Ireland.

Pat Downes Manager of The Aga Khan Studs in Ireland said: “We are really looking forward to having horses in training with Dermot Weld. This has been a difficult year for the organisation in Ireland, as John Oxx’s yard has been suffering from a virus. This has highlighted the need for us to spread our horses over a greater number of trainers to avoid this situation reoccurring. This policy has worked for us in France, so we felt it was worth implementing it in Ireland also.”

The Aga Khan Studs have also confirmed that they will not retain a jockey in Ireland for the 2014 season but will use the jockeys employed by each trainer.